Method and apparatus fob wrapping



E. WILSON ETAL May 16, 1950 H,

METHOD AND APPARATUS FDR WRAPPING SAWV BLADES DR THE LIKE original Filed Feb, 27. 1946 f 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 d S mn M S .O @mk T l WWW .IIP Il d y E/ M G D o.. H M Nw Nmw Nw. SD NN, 1 1-- MP.: o l5m :L Nm. WFH/ nh. mm QW nu. WG. D l h/m. 9M. mmm. mmhwmwmm QM. MWNM. 1L 1 O O Inn T- mwimm z mw 1 um... O G 1.1-5. w mm Nm. INN m. 2m MN m, NN QN QN QN' N@ .N NN hun .N w d..

E. WILSON ET Al. Re. 23,231

TUS FOR WRAPFING k sAw BLADES 0R THE LIKE Original Filed Feb. 27, 1946 May 16, 1950 H.

METHOD AND APPARA 5 Sheets-Sheet 2` May 16, 1950 H. E. WILSON ETAL Re. 23,231

' METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WRAPPING sAw BLADES 0R THE LIKE original Filed Feb. 27, 194e 5 Sheets-Sheet I5 INVIIINTOR S Hen/yEW//So and May 16, 1950 H. E. WILSON ETAL Re. 23,231

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WRAPPING sAw BLADES DR THE LIKE Original Filed Feb. 27, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Iig. lZ

Il O f M t; L!" @A u w1 K @D Y lNv'ENToRs HenQ/EV//son and Gera/dlllV//Son May 16, 1950 H. E. WILSON ETAL Re. 23,231

METHOD AND APPARATUS FDR WRAPPING sAw BLADES DR Tm: LIKE Original Filed Feb. 27, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 d n www W T/ n e6 H mma Mq 1s, 195o METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WRAPPING SAW BLADES R THE LIKE Henry E. Wilson and Gerald W. Wilson, Grand Junction, Colo.,

of Delaware Original No.

assignors to Pittsburgh-Erie Saw Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa.,

a corporation 2,458,971, dated January 11, 1949,

Serial No. 650,598, February 27, 1946. Application for reissue November 29, 1949, Serial N0.

Matter enclosed in heavy brackets I:

l 8 Claims.

] appears in the original patent but' forms no part oi' this reissue speciication; matter printed in italics indicates the additions made by reissue This invention relates to the art of wrapping and, in particular, to a method and apparatus for wrapping thin, at articles, specifically endless bands, such as band-saw blades.

Because of the lack of a satisfactory machine for Wrapping band-saw blades, it has been the practice heretofore to ship them bare in cylindrical containers after doubling them on themselves several times to provide a'multiple loop of reduced diameter. When several blades are thus packed in the container, the teeth of the blades are subjected to direct contact with the backs of adjacent blades and, under the shock and vibration incident to handling and shipping, the sharpness of the teeth is materially impaired. We have invented a novel method and apparatus for applying a wrapping to the blades so that they are protected from contact with each other during shipment and may thus be delivered to the user with the teeth as sharp as they left the factory.

In a preferred embodiment and practice of our invention, we provide a table adapted to support a band placed thereon on edge with means for advancing .the band along a predetermined path. We deliver a wrapping strip longitudinally of the blade and provide spaced folding guides for turning up the edges of the strip about the blade and then turning one of the edges downwardly over the upper edge of the blade. We continue the application of the wrapping strip until the entire length of the band has been covered. In wrapping endless bands, we make the last fold in the wrapping strip toward the interior of the band. After the wrapping has been completed, we turn the band inside out, thus stretching the lapped edges of the wrapping strip so that there is no tendency for the edges to unfold. The means for pulling the blade and wrapping strip through the folding guides is preferably a pair of pinch rolls which serve to crease the folds in the wrapping strip,

A complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from the following detailed descriptlonwhich refers to the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment and `prac-- tice. In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a plan view of our wrapping apparatus:

Figure 2 is an elevation thereof;

Figures 3 and 4 are plan views to enlarged scale of the folding guides;

Figure 5 is a'. transverse section taken along the plane of line V-V of Figure 3, showing the first folding guide `in elevation;

Figure 6 is a similar section taken along the 55 plane of line VI--VI of Figure 4, showingr the second folding guide in elevation;

Figure 7 is a horizontal section through the first folding guide taken along the plane of line VII- VII of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a. similar section through the second folding Vguide taken along the plane of line VIII- VIII of Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a plan view of the table to enlarged scale with the folding guides removed;

Figure 10 is a transverse section taken along the plane of line X--X of Figure 9;

Figure l1 is a similar section taken along the plane of line XI--XI of Figure 1;

Figure 12 is a diagrammatic plan view to enlarged scale showing the several stages in the folding of the strip about the band;

Figures 13 through 15 are sections through the strip as it is being Wrapped taken along the planes of the correspondingly numbered lines of Figure 12;

Figure 16 is a perspective view of a band after it has been wrapped; and

Figure 1'7 shows the same band after it has been turned inside out.

Referring in detail to the drawings, and, for the present, particularly to Figures l and 2, our apparatus comprises a table IIJ including a bandsupporting portion II of any desired size and a strip-feeding and folding portion I2. The table is adapted to support an endless band I3 on edge for movement through a predetermined path during which movement the wrapping strip is progressively applied thereto and folded thereabout.

The strip-feeding portion I2 yof the table Il) has legs I4 and I5. A roll of wrapping strip I6 is disposed in a suitable holder I1 attached to the legs I5 and the strip S drawn therefrom passes over a. guide roll I8 at the right-hand end of the table. The strip is fed along the table between side guides I9 and under a tensioning foot 20 pivotally mounted in a block 2 I. The strip then passes through manually operated cross cut shear 22. As shown in Figure l1, this shear comprises a lever 23 having a blade 23a thereon pivoted to a post 24 on a bolt 25 having a compression spring thereon. The shear blade is normally held in raised position by a tension spring 26 secured thereto and to a bolt 21 on a guide post 28. The posts 24 and 28 are secured to the sides of the strip-feeding portion -I2 of the table. The end of the lever 23 remote from the post 24 projects beyond the post 28 and forms an operating handle. It will be apparent that the strip S may formed o1' two pieces but Ahas an operating handle be cut off when desired by;` downward movement of the lever`23. The shear 22 serves to sever the strtpwhen thewrapping of a band has been com- Pleted.

A vguide roller 28 of the table beyond I3 yas it approaches said portion and successively enters strip-folding guides 30 and 3|. 32 adjacent the roller 29 insures the proper lentry of the wrapping strip under the lower edge of the ban of bloc hinged to a plate 33 on the strip-feeding 'portion l2 of the table. 'I'his plate is actually will be referred to as a As clearly shown in Figures 3 38 is pivoted to a hinge block 34. 35 and ls yieldably held in operative position by a spring pressed detent 38 mounted vin a block 31. 'I'he guide 3|! has an insert 38 which may conveniently be of ber or other easily machinable material. The insert is at one side of the portion I2 single memben and 5, the guide removably secured in place by any convenient means and is provided with longitudinal slots 39 and 48. 'I'he insert 38 extends downwardly into a central longitudinal recess 4I rin plate 33. As shown in Figure 9, the recess includes a tapering entrance 4 la, a restricted portion 4 Ib and a wider portion 4|c. 'Ihe slot 39'is dimensioned to admit the band I3 as it is moved forward ,through the guide by traction means to be described subsequently. 'I'he slot flares toward the entrance end as clearly shown in Figures 3 and 5. The slot 48 is adapted to receive one edge of the strip S and serves,`when the edge is properly started thereinto, progressively to fold up the edge as shown in Figure 1. The material-of the insert 38 which l'ln 42.

` is left when the slots 39 and 40 are cut out forms a central longitudinal guide 'I'he folding guide pivoted to a hinge block 43. It has a handle 44 and is yieldably held in operative position by a spring-pressed detent 43 in a block 46. An insert 4'I of fiber or the like is removably secured to the block 3| and extends downwardly therefrominto the recess 4Ic. The insert 41 has a longitudinal slot 48 therein flaring toward the entrance end which admits the band with both edges of the wrapping strip folded upwardly around the lower edge of the band. As the band and strip enter the guide 38, the edge of the strip projecting above the bandis progressively folded downwardly therearound.

The traction means for pulling the band and wrapping strip through the guides 30 and 3| comprises a pair of pinch mils 49 and 50 as shown to enlarged scale in 48 is mounted on a shaft 49a journaled in the table portion |2. 'I'he roll 58 is mounted on a shaft 89a Journaled in a blockil pivoted to the table portion I2 on a pin 32. A compression spring 33 disposed in recesses in the table portion I2 and the block 3| normally urges the latter outwardly whereby the rolls are opened. A shaft 54 extending through the block 8| and threaded into a tapped hole in the table portion I2 has a ilxed side cam 33 thereon. A rotatable side cam 56 cooperating therewith has an operating lever 61. 'I'hus by throwing the lever, the block 5I is forced foward the table portion I2 against the compression spring 33, thereby bringing the pinch rolls Into engagement with a band disposed therebetween. The rolls preferably have tires 58h of material such as rubber having a, suitable coeillcient of friction to enable desired tractive force.

the rolls to exert the the shear 22 directs the band A guide The guides 38 and 3| are in the form Figures 9 and 10. The roll pinch rolls.

3| also comprises a block y and lla have gears I8. thereon. driven by a motor I3 mounted on the legs I4 of the table, through a reducing gear 88 and a flexible coupling 3|. The gears Glare designed to permit slight movement of the block II incident to closing and opening the pinchrolls without disturbing the meshing relation thereof.

A guide roller 82 is journaled on the tble portion I2 adjacentthe pinch rolls to direct the portionA of the band leaving the latter.

In utilizing the apparatus described above to perform our method of wrapping endless bands, a band, such as that shown at I3, is placed on the table II. The folding guides 39 and 3| having been swungupwardly and back out of the way and the pinch rolls having been openedrup, the band is disposed in the recess 4| and between the 'I'he leading end of the strip S is manually drawn forward from the shear 22 under the guide 4|b of the recessk 4|, the edges of the strip, of course, being folded up to permit this. The strip 'rae sham ua is so disposed laterally of the table portion I 2 that thereof as shown in Figure 13. When both edges of the strip have been folded about the band, as shown in Figure 14, the strip edge projecting above the upper edge ofthe band is folded down thereover as shown in Figure 15. When the leading end of the strip thus folded has been disposed between the pinch rolls 49 and 50, the guide 3| is lowered to the position shown in Figurel 6, the edge of the strip being manipulated manually to permit this. Next, the guide 38 is replaced in operative position. When these preparations have been completed, the lever 51 is turned down, thereby causing the pinch rolls to seize the band and the leading end of the Wrapping strip which has been folded thereabout by hand. As soon as the pinch rolls grip the bandenclosed in the folded wrapping strip, they pull both the band and strip forward through the guides 38 and 3|. The latter progreively eifect the folding of the strip edges about the band in the successive steps illustrated in Figures l2 through l5. That is to say, one edge of the strip, indicated at 63, is folded up by the guide 30, the other edge of the strip 34 remaining in its original-plane andpassing under the insert 38 of gulden. It will be observed that the edge 63 when folded extends upwardly above the upper toothed edge of the band I3. On entering the restricted portion 4Ib of the recess 4|, however, the edge 84 is progressively folded up.' This condition is illustrated in Figure 14.

The upwardly projecting edge 63 of the strip is folded down over the upper edge of the band I3 progressively on entering the insert 41 of guide 3|. This condition is illustrated in Figure l5. It will be noted that the lapped edges 33 and 64 of the strip are on the inside of the loop formed by the band.

Continued operation of the pinch rolls eventually brings the leading end of the wrapping strip toward the entering end of the guide 38. T-he operator then manipulates the shear 22 to cut on the strip at a point such that suillcient length is allowed to lap the leading end as it returns to starting position. When the severed trailing end of the strip has passed through the pinch rolls, the lever 3'| is operated to release the latter, whereupon the wrapped band may be removed by raising the guides 30 and.3|. The pinch rolls serve to crease the folds in the wrapping strip formed by the guides 38 and 3|. When the band has 32 and through the restricted portion been removed from the guides, it is in the condition shown in Figure 16, with the lapped edges of the wrapping strip on the inside. The band is then manually turned inside out to the position shown in Figure 17 with the lapped edges of the wrapping strip on the exterior. This places the lapped edges under a slight tension circumferentially of the band which is sufficient to prevent unwrapping without the application of seals or ties. The wrapped band is then doubled on itself to form a multiple loop suitable for packing in the usual cylindrical shaped container.

If vwill be apparent from the foregoing that our invention comprises a highly useful method and apparatus whereby endless bands such as bandsaw blades may be wrapped easily'and at high speed so that the cost of the wrapping operation is very small. 'I'he apparatus is relatively simple and inexpensively constructed and may be operated by relatively unskilled labor. Phe advantage of wrapped band-saw blades over bare blades 6 longitudinally of the portion of the blade between the guides, said guides being adapted respectively to fold the edges of the strip upwardly about the lower edge of the blade and downwardly over the upper edge of the blade] [5. Apparatus for progressively folding s, wrapping strip longitudinally about an endless band such as a band-saw blade, comprising a table adapted to support a band on edge, 4traction means for pulling the band, spaced guides on the table having slots for the band to pass through,

and means for delivering a wrapping strip longi-` tudinally oi' the band, one of said guides also from the standpoint of avoiding damage to the f teeth edges during shipment and handling, is so obvious as to require no emphasis. A further advantage, of course, is that persons handling the blades are protected against injury by the sharp teeth thereof. While the invention has been explained with special reference to the wrapping ofband-saw blades, it will be apparent that it may also be used for other articles as well.

Although we have illustrated and described but a preferred method and practice of our invention, it will be recognized that changes in the details of construction and procedure may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for wrapping saw blades or the like comprising a [table] generally planar support, traction rolls thereon [adapted in engage a blade placed on edge on the table] having their axes generally perpendicular to the support adapted to engage a blade disposed generally perpendicular to the support, means for delivering a wrapping strip longitudinally of the blade, [and] guide [blocks spaced along the table effective progressively] means through which the blade and wrapping strip pass engaging the edges of the wrapping strip to fold the [edges oi' the strip] same around the blade as it is [pulled] advanced through the [blocks] guide means by said rolls, mounting means on the support and a connection' between the mounting means and the guide means movablg mounting the guide ymeans on the mounting means providing for lateral opening of the guide means.

[2. Apparatus for wrapping saw blades or the like comprising a table adapted to support a blade on edge, means for advancing successive portions of the length of the blade along the table, a pair of spaced guide blocks directing said portions in a predetermined path, the first of said blocks having means for folding up about the blade the edges of a strip of wrapping material, the second of said blocks having means for folding one of said edges down over the blade] [3. The apparatus defined by claim 2 characterized by said advancing means comprising traction rolls adjacent the exit end Aof the second guide block] [4. Apparatus for wrapping saw blades or the like comprising a table adapted to support a blade on edge, folding guides spaced along the table. traction means for drawing the blade through said guides, and means for supplying a wrappin strip having surfaces effective progressively to fold the edges of the strip upwardly about the band] [6. The apparatus defined byclaim 5 characterized by said one of said guides having a slot to accommodate an edge of the strip which extends above the band after the initial folding] [7. Apparatus for progressively folding a wrapping strip longitudinally about an endless band such as a band-saw blade, comprising a table adapted to support a band on edge, traction means for pulling the band, spaced guides on the table having slots for the band to pass through, and means for delivering a wrapping strip longitudinally of the band, one of said guides also having surfaces effective progressively to fold the edges of the lstrip upwardly about the band, the second guide having a surface effective progressively to fold down about the band an edge of the strip extending thereabove] [8. Apparatus for progressively folding a wrapping strip longitudinally about an endlessband such as a band-saw blade, comprising a substantially horizontal table adapted to support a band on edge, traction means for pulling the band, means for delivering a wrapping strip longitudinally of the band, a guide block for progressively folding the edges of the strip upwardly about the band, and'a second guide block for progressively folding down about the band one of said edges extending thereabove] [9. 'Ilhe `apparatus defined by claim 8 charac-- terized by said traction means being a pair of pinch rolls located adjacent the outlet of the second guide block adapted to crease the folds in said strip] [10. Apparatus for progressively folding a wrapping strip longitudinally about an endless band such as a band-sawI blade, comprising a table adapted to support a band on edge, a pair of pinch rolls for pulling the band, means for supplying a wrapping strip longitudinally of the band, a guide block spaced from said rolls having a slot adapted to receive the band and surfaces adapted progressively to fold the edges of the strip upwardly about the band. and a second guide block adjacent the rolls having a slot adapted to accommodate the band and a surface adapted progressively to fold down about the band an edge of the strip extending thereabove] [11. The apparatus defined by claim 10 characterized by said blocks being liftable from the table and said slots and surfaces being formed in the bottoms of said blocks] [12. The apparatus defined by claim l0 characterized by said slots and surfaces being formed sassi placing the band with one of its edges n a substantially horizontal supporting surface; Dulling the band along a predetermined path. feeding a strip of wrapping material along said path and progressively folding the edges of the strip around the band] f [15. In a method oi' wrappingan endless'band such as a band-saw blade, the Isteps including placing the band with one of its edgcs'on a substantially horizontal supporting surface, feeding a strip the length of .the band. folding the end of the strip about the band, drawing the band and strip along a predetermined path and progressively folding the strip about the band throughout its lensthJ [16. In a method of wrapping a saw blade, the steps including placing the blade with one of its edges on a substantially horizontal supporting surface, pulling the blade along a predetermined path, feeding a strip of wrapping material along said path, folding both edges of the strip upwardly alongsidev the blade with one the blade, folding said one edge downwardly over the blade. and continuing said folding progressively throughout the length of the blade] 17. In a method of wrapping an endless band such as'a band-saw blade, the steps including -advancing successive portions of the length of the band along a predetermined path, .progressively folding the edges of a strip of wrapping material around the band toward the inside of the loop formed thereby. with one of said edges overlapping the other. and turning the fully mapped band inside out so the edges of the strip. are disposed on the outside of the band.

[18. Apparatus for progressively folding a wrapping strip longitudinally about an endless band such as a band-saw blade,'comprislng a table adapted to support a band on edge, traction means for pulling the band, means for delivering a wrapping strip longitudinally of the band, and guide means for progressively folding the edges' oi' the strip upwardly about the band, said guide means including a block having a slot to accommodate the band and a slot to accommodate an edge of the strip extending above the band when [19. In a method of wrapping a nat blade, the steps comprising simultaneously advancing the blade and a wrapping strip generally longitudiliaily of the blade and with the wrapping strip in contact with one of the edges of the blade and during said advance progressively folding the wrapping strip so that portions of it lie on opposite sides of the blade with at least one of said portions extending beyond the opposite edge of the blade and turning said portion of the wrapping strip about said opposite edge of the blade.)

20. Apparatus for applying to and foldingl transversely about an endless flexible flat band an elongated wrapping strip extending along the band comprising means advancing longitudinally the band and strip in face-to-face relation including opposed pinch rolls pressing the opposed flat faces of the band and strip directly together and strip folding means separate from the pinch rolls acting on the strip to fold it about the band as. the band and strip are advanced together therethrough, mounting means and a connection between the mounting meansand the strip foldof wrapping material along a portion of edge extending above wrapping an endless band -such ,as a band-saw blade, the steps including adapted progressively to fold ing means movably the strip folding means on Vthe mounting means providing 101' lateral vopening of the strip folding means to permit introduction therelnte of the endless band at the beginning of the operation and removal of the wrapped endless band at the 4conclusion thereof.

21. Apparatus for progressively folding a wrapping strip longitudinally about an endless band such asta band-saw blade,y comprising a-table adapted to supporta band on edge, pinch rolls for pulling the band-means /orsupplying a wrapping strip longitudinally of the. band, a guide block spaced from said vrolls having a slot adapted to receive the band and surfaces adapted progressively to fold the edges of the strip upwardly about the band, and a. second guide block:n adjacent the rolls having a slot adapted to accommodate the band and a surface down about the band an edge of the strip extending thereabove, said blocks being liftable from the table and said slots and surfaces being formed in the bottoms of said blocks.' 22. Apparatus for progressively folding a wrapping strip longitudinally about an endless band such as a band-saw blade, comprising/.a table adapted to support a band on edge. a pair o! pinch rolls for pulling the band, means-for supplying a wrapping strip longitudinally of the f band an edge of the strip extending thereabove,

` wrapped.

said slots and surfaces being formed in the bottoms of said blocks, and said blocks being hinged to said table whereby they may be thrown up out of the way facilitating the starting of a band between said rolls and its removal therefrom when 23. In a'method of ible flat band having cutting means atl one edge thereof, the steps comprising disposing a portion of the band in a wrapping path, also disposing portion of a wrapping strip wider than the band with said portion of the band and said portion of the wrapping strip in face-to-face contact, pressing the flat faces of t the band and wrapping strip together and advancing the band and wrapping strip lengthwise through force applied between the inside and the outside `of the' bandy generally in a plane normal to the band and wrapping strip vuntil the length of wrapping strip thus advanced is at least substantially equal to the circumferential length of the band so that the wrapping strip at least approximately overlaps itself and in the wrapping path progressively folding the wrapping strip about the band during such advance.

24. In a method of wrapping an endless flea:- ible flat band having cutting means at one edge thereof, the steps comprising introducing laterally'into a wrapping path a portion of the band, introducing longitudinally into the wrapping path the leading end of an elongated wrapping strip wider than the band with said portion of the band and the leading end of the wrappingy strip in face-to-face contact, pressing the flat faces of the band and wrapping strip together and applying tractive force to the band and wrap pingstripbetlaeenthetnaideandthetddeof apairof' wrapping an endless flezy the band generally in aplane lnormal' to the band and wrapping strip and thereby advancing the bandand wrapping strip lengthwise until the length of wrapping strip thus advanced is at least 'substantially -equal to the circumferential length o] the band, in the wrapping path progressipely folding band during such advance and withdrawing laterally from the wrapping path'the portion of the wrapped band disposed in the wrapping path upon completion of the wrapping.

25. In a method of wrapping an endless fiezible )lat band having cutting means at one edge thereof, the steps comprising disposing a portion of the band in a substantially straight wrapping path, alsofdisposing in the wrapping path a portion of. a wrapping strip wider than the band with said portion of the band and said portion of the wrapping strip in face-to-face contact, pressing the flat faces of the band and wrapping strip together and advancing the band and wrapping strip lengthwise through force applied between the inside and the outside of the band generally in a plane normal to the band and wrapping strip until the length of wrapping strip thus advanced is at least substantially equal to the wrapping strip about thel r bsway raming the wrapping strip about the una the circumferential length of the band so thatV the wrapping strip at least approximately overlaps itself and in the wrapping path progres during such advance;

HENRY E. WILSON. GERALD W. WILSON.

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